Tom DempseyNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Tom DempseyMon, 22 Aug 2016 07:19:51 +0000Tom Dempseyhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org
Jason Rosenbaum On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Democrat Richard Orr to the program. Orr is the Democratic nominee for the 23rd state Senatorial District, which takes in a portion of St. Charles County. He’s a buyer and instructor for a kayaking company. Orr is squaring off against Republican Bill Eigel, a businessman who won a highly competitive GOP primary earlier this month. (Eigel appeared on Politically Speaking earlier this week.) Politically Speaking: Democrat Richard Orr on turning a St. Charles County-based Senate seat bluehttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/politically-speaking-democrat-richard-orr-turning-st-charles-county-based-senate-seat-blue
53718 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 19 Aug 2016 17:18:42 +0000Politically Speaking: Democrat Richard Orr on turning a St. Charles County-based Senate seat blueJason RosenbaumIf there was one big lesson that John Lamping learned during his tenure in the Missouri Senate, it was that it’s very difficult to pass a bill – but very simple to kill one. Case in point: The former GOP lawmaker proposed two-year ban on lawmakers going into lobbying, something that’s taken hold in other states and throughout the U.S. Congress. But Lamping’s proposal never got off the ground. On the Trail: Lawmakers struggle to close General Assembly's 'revolving door' http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/trail-lawmakers-struggle-close-general-assemblys-revolving-door
49206 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgMon, 19 Oct 2015 04:07:21 +0000On the Trail: Lawmakers struggle to close General Assembly's 'revolving door' Jason Rosenbaum On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome former Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey. The St. Charles Republican provided some of his most in-depth comments about his departure from the Missouri Senate. He surprised many by resigning last month and taking a job at The Gateway Group, a lobbying organization that’s based in St. Louis. Retired financier Rex Sinquefield is one of the Gateway Group's clients.Politically Speaking: Dempsey explains his decision to leave the Missouri Senatehttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/politically-speaking-dempsey-explains-his-decision-leave-missouri-senate
48708 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgWed, 23 Sep 2015 20:19:17 +0000Politically Speaking: Dempsey explains his decision to leave the Missouri SenateJo ManniesFormer Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, who resigned less than a week ago, says his new title is “director of business development’’ at a Clayton-based lobbying firm, Gate Way Group. Dempsey, a Republican from St. Charles, said in an interview that he began work this week. His resignation from the state Senate was effective last Friday. Dempsey joins Clayton-based lobbying firm that has Sinquefield among its clientshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/dempsey-joins-clayton-based-lobbying-firm-has-sinquefield-among-its-clients
47829 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 13 Aug 2015 04:38:57 +0000Dempsey joins Clayton-based lobbying firm that has Sinquefield among its clientsJason RosenbaumThe imminent departure of Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey amounts to an end of an era for the Missouri General Assembly, at least for Missouri Public Service Commissioner Scott Rupp. Rupp – a former Republican senator from Wentzville – served in the Missouri House and Missouri Senate with Dempsey for years. He said the soon-to-be former St. Charles Republican senator was part of a very exclusive club within the Missouri General Assembly. “After serving there – what? 12, 13 – or how many years I was there? -- there are very few people who I have maintained and still have a high level of respect for. And Tom is on a very short list," said Rupp, who served in the House from 2003 to 2006 and the Senate from 2006 to 2014. “I do have a lot of respect for him. He has a lot of integrity. He served the state well. He will be missed. But I really applaud his decision to do what’s best for him and his family.” Dempsey will be walking away from legislative service on Friday. He said in aOn the Trail: Some worry Dempsey's departure is an end to the 'Old Senate'http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/trail-some-worry-dempseys-departure-end-old-senate
47598 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgMon, 03 Aug 2015 04:18:19 +0000On the Trail: Some worry Dempsey's departure is an end to the 'Old Senate'Jason RosenbaumThe top Republican in the Missouri Senate is stepping down. Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey announced on Friday he will resign from his St. Charles County-based Senate seat next Friday. In a lengthy statement, the Republican legislator cited a return to the private sector and a desire to be closer to his wife and three children.Missouri Senate's top Republican stepping down to 'return to private life'http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-senates-top-republican-stepping-down-return-private-life
47576 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 31 Jul 2015 19:00:13 +0000Missouri Senate's top Republican stepping down to 'return to private life'Jo Mannies While in Europe, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s trade entourage has held a lot of meetings, but so far has yet to strike any deals. That was the message in the governor’s progress report, delivered via a telephone call Wednesday from Munich in Germany.Missouri trade delegation highlights contacts during European triphttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-trade-delegation-highlights-contacts-during-european-trip
44722 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 26 Mar 2015 06:12:31 +0000Missouri trade delegation highlights contacts during European tripJo ManniesMissouri's two top legislative leaders are among those who will join Gov. Jay Nixon for an eight-day trade trip to Italy, Germany and Spain. At a news conference Monday in St. Charles, the governor said the trip, which begins Friday,makes sense. The three countries already purchase more than $570 million a year in Missouri products. And Germany is the state’s seventh top trade partner. "We’re using this trade mission to build on our export successes and working to attract additional foreign investment, with a special emphasis on our all-important manufacturing sector,” Nixon said. “We’ll be meeting automakers, auto suppliers and other manufacturers in Milan, Frankfurt, Munich, Madrid and other cities.” But the trip also is politically significant. It will mark the first time that Nixon, a Democrat, has traveled overseas with Missouri House Speaker John Diehl, R-Town and Country, and Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles. Nixon hasn’t always been on the best of terms withRepublican legislative leaders to join Nixon on trade trip to Europehttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/republican-legislative-leaders-join-nixon-trade-trip-europe
44523 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgMon, 16 Mar 2015 22:28:32 +0000Republican legislative leaders to join Nixon on trade trip to EuropeMarshall GriffinNeither the Missouri House nor Senate will consider any new bills to address a blistering report by the U.S. Justice Department over the operations of the Ferguson Police Department. That's because it's now too late to file any new legislation this year. The filing deadline in the Senate was last Thursday, Feb. 26. The House filing deadline is tomorrow, March 6, but the House has already adjourned for the week. It is possible, however, to add new language to existing bills in the form of amendments. The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus says the findings of the Justice Department's investigation warrant legislative action. Caucus chair Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, said in a statement: "The investigation from the Department of Justice not only validates but shows the necessity for overt judicial and law enforcement reform.....It should now be clear to anyone who cares about justice that a Ferguson agenda is of the upmost importance and must be pursued without delay." A seven-monthNo new Ferguson bills on Missouri legislative agenda following Justice Department reporthttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/no-new-ferguson-bills-missouri-legislative-agenda-following-justice-department-report
43904 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 06 Mar 2015 00:29:55 +0000No new Ferguson bills on Missouri legislative agenda following Justice Department reportJo ManniesMissouri Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, says he has yet to take a position on the “right-to-work’’ bill that is headed to his chamber after passing the House last week. “I’m still looking at it,’’ Dempsey said in an interview. He also remains skeptical that the measure — which would restrict union rights in the workplace — has enough Senate votes to override what he sees as “a certain veto’’ by Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat with close labor ties. Dempsey’s candid observations underscore the uncertain future that the “right to work’’ bill faces, even after the House’s first-time-ever approval. His comments also highlight the split between Missouri’s rural and suburban Republicans on the issue. “Right to work” would bar unions and employers from requiring all employees to join a union and pay dues if a majority votes to unionize. Backers say such a law is needed to help Missouri attract businesses, especially since the state is surrounded by many “right-to-work’’Missouri Senate leader on the fence about 'right to work'http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-senate-leader-fence-about-right-work
43502 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgWed, 18 Feb 2015 19:15:34 +0000Missouri Senate leader on the fence about 'right to work'Marshall GriffinThe 2015 Missouri legislative session is underway, and here are some of the highlights of the day. Nixon gets first say on start of session The day began with the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast, after which he answered questions from reporters on a few topics, including whether Medicaid expansion was already a lost cause for 2015. Nixon, of course, said it wasn't at all. "Since we (were) here last year, you've seen a cavalcade of states in which you have Republican governors and Republican legislators moving forward on Medicaid, (who earlier) said they wouldn't," Nixon said. "At the federal level, with the budget agreements, they've agreed to continue the funding (for Medicaid)." Nixon laughed when asked about a tweet last month from state Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, which read, "Let me be crystal clear: We won't be expanding Medicaid." "It's nice for him to make an opening offer (and) start the discussion," Nixon joked. He then added, "Schaaf sees there (are) ways that we canOpening Day Of Missouri Legislature Marked By Promises, Protestshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/opening-day-missouri-legislature-marked-promises-protests
42412 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 08 Jan 2015 02:32:00 +0000Opening Day Of Missouri Legislature Marked By Promises, ProtestsMarshall GriffinThe November elections were very good for Republicans in the state Senate. Come January, when the new legislative session opens, Republicans will hold 25 seats in the 34-member body. So it shouldn't be too surprising that Senate Republicans are sticking with the leaders they have. On Thursday, senators met at the capitol and re-elected Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, as president pro-tem, and re-elected Ron Richard, R-Joplin, as majority floor leader. Dempsey says he hopes the Senate can have a better relationship with Gov. Jay Nixon, but he also took the governor, a Democrat, to task for not working with lawmakers. "We did a lot of good work in the last two years, a lot of bipartisan work in the last two years," Dempsey told reporters. "(On) the revision of the criminal code, (for example), the governor was one person (who said) 'let's take a little snippet of it and find a reason we can't support it'… Instead of doing that, all the members of the senate said, 'this is good legislationMissouri Senate Re-Elects Republicans Dempsey, Richards To Top Leadershiphttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-senate-re-elects-republicans-dempsey-richards-top-leadership
40882 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 06 Nov 2014 22:13:49 +0000Missouri Senate Re-Elects Republicans Dempsey, Richards To Top LeadershipJason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies In what’s becoming something of a post-veto session tradition, Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Chris McDaniel, Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss the impact of the General Assembly's annual event. The St. Charles Republican leads the 23-member Republican caucus in the Missouri Senate. And this past week, his chamber participated in votes to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s vetoes of 10 standalone bills and 47 line-item vetoes of spending items in the current budget. The bills that now become law include a broading-ranging bill that expands gun rights and another measure enacting a 72-hour waiting period for abortions. To pass the 72-hour waiting period bill, the Senate needed to unleash a rarely-used procedural motion known as the “previous question.” That maneuver shuts off debate, kills off filibusters and forces a vote on a particular bill or motion. This was the first time the motion was used since 2007, which the Senate quashed filibusters onPolitically Speaking: Sen. Dempsey Takes Stock Of Another Eventful Veto Sessionhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/politically-speaking-sen-dempsey-takes-stock-another-eventful-veto-session
39619 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 12 Sep 2014 22:17:09 +0000Politically Speaking: Sen. Dempsey Takes Stock Of Another Eventful Veto SessionJo ManniesBudget leaders in the Missouri House and Senate say they’ll try to override at least 50 of Gov. Jay Nixon’s line-item vetoes in the state budget in the veto sessions starting Wednesday. But the governor and Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster say legislators may be wasting their time. And the legislators acknowledged that such override attempts may indeed be symbolic. Whether symbolic or not, both legislators agreed that any overrides of the governor’s line-item vetoes in the state budget can be overturned by the governor. That’s because the governor has the power to “withhold’’ money allocated in the state budget; the money can be released if state income subsequently allows it. “Withholds’’ make up most of the $1.2 billion that Nixon excised from the state budget. The legislators are upset about roughly $250 million that he outright vetoed. State Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia – and chairman of the Senate Appropriations – told reporters on a conference call Tuesday that the 50In Dispute Over Nixon's Spending Vetoes, All Sides Agree Overrides May Be Futilehttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/dispute-over-nixons-spending-vetoes-all-sides-agree-overrides-may-be-futile
39519 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgTue, 09 Sep 2014 20:40:12 +0000In Dispute Over Nixon's Spending Vetoes, All Sides Agree Overrides May Be FutileJo ManniesThe Missouri House and Senate each spent the waning minutes of the legislative session embroiled in debate over a bill to nullify most federal gun laws. But afterward, it was Gov. Jay Nixon who fired off the first post-session shots. His target was the General Assembly’s final-day spending spree. In the last eight hours of the session, Nixon said, legislators approved at least eight bills calling for close to $500 million in new spending – which he called “irresponsible" since none of that new spending was accounted for in the budget that legislators had approved a week earlier. His anger visible, Nixon asserted that the upshot was that the General Assembly “abysmally failed in one of its basic responsibilities” and had tossed a financial mess in his administration’s lap. “This is a very wrong path, and I’m going to correct it,’’ the governor said tersely, alluding to his constitutional powers to cut, curtail or delay state spending to balance the state’s budget. Nixon implied that heNixon Blasts Legislative Session As 'Abysmal,' While GOP Leaders Call It 'Historic'http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/nixon-blasts-legislative-session-abysmal-while-gop-leaders-call-it-historic
36222 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgSat, 17 May 2014 03:27:13 +0000Nixon Blasts Legislative Session As 'Abysmal,' While GOP Leaders Call It 'Historic'Jo ManniesIn the midst of his second term, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has continued to travel the state to promote his agenda for the state. He has heightened his profile even more in recent days, as he has blasted a tax-cut proposal that the General Assembly has landed on his desk. But Nixon has effectively dropped one activity that used to take up a lot of his time: campaign fundraising. Since Jan. 1, the governor has collected only two campaign donations and raised only $2,040 in cash, according to his campaign-finance report filed this week. His largest donation was an an in-kind contribution worth $13,000 from Clayco, a St. Louis-based firm. The latest low totals are particularly striking, considering the millions of dollars that Nixon raised annually from 2008 through 2012 to finance two expensive campaigns. The governor’s current lack of fundraising also raises questions about what he plans to do after 2016, when he leaves office. Because Missouri lacks campaign donation limits, any moneyNixon, Zweifel Report Raising Little Campaign Money — Unlike Kander, Joneshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/nixon-zweifel-report-raising-little-campaign-money-unlike-kander-jones
35423 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 18 Apr 2014 20:46:41 +0000Nixon, Zweifel Report Raising Little Campaign Money — Unlike Kander, JonesMarshall GriffinThe second half of Missouri's 2014 regular session is underway. Leaders in both chambers and from both parties remain focused on crafting a state budget and on easing the burden of the state's student transfer law — but they remain divided on expanding Medicaid. Medicaid expansion a 'nonstarter' The Missouri House is spending this entire work week debating and passing the 13 bills that make up the fiscal year 2015 state budget, which takes effect July 1. The bills will then go to the Senate, which will also pass them, but not before either adding or subtracting the amount of money in next year's spending plan. Both chambers have until May 9 to send the final version to Gov. Jay Nixon's desk. At this point, the only certainty appears to be that Medicaid will not be expanded in any form, after a group of Republican senators said Monday that the issue is a "nonstarter" in their chamber. In the House, Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, says reforming Medicaid without expanding it may be the onlySecond Half Of Missouri 2014 Legislative Session Underwayhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/second-half-missouri-2014-legislative-session-underway-0
34702 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgTue, 25 Mar 2014 11:35:00 +0000Second Half Of Missouri 2014 Legislative Session UnderwayMarshall GriffinThe first half of Missouri's 2014 legislative session is over, and lawmakers have left Jefferson City for their annual spring break. House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, touted the passage of several of his priorities, including photo voter ID legislation, conscientious objections to certain medical procedures, and ending the economic border war between Missouri and Kansas. Jones told reporters Thursday he wants to push several issues when they return in a week and a half, including right-to-work legislation. "We have an economic choice to make here in Missouri: Do we want to move forward and debate that issue? I personally do, (and) I believe there's a large majority of our caucus (which) does as well," Jones said. "We're going to discuss that when we come back and decide how to move forward." The first priority when House members return from spring break will be taking up the state budget and voting it over to the Missouri Senate. The Senate, meanwhile, is expected to continue workingMissouri Lawmakers Tout Accomplishments, Talk On What's Next, As Spring Break Beginshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-lawmakers-tout-accomplishments-talk-whats-next-spring-break-begins
34409 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 14 Mar 2014 01:26:31 +0000Missouri Lawmakers Tout Accomplishments, Talk On What's Next, As Spring Break BeginsJo ManniesThis article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, says he decided to become last week’s pivotal vote against the bill nullifying federal gun laws when it became clear to him that the legislation had too many poorly drafted provisions.Missouri Senate leader says he killed gun bill because it had too many flawshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-senate-leader-says-he-killed-gun-bill-because-it-had-too-many-flaws
52136 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 19 Sep 2013 21:21:55 +0000Missouri Senate leader says he killed gun bill because it had too many flawsChris McDanielEvery week, St. Louis Public Radio’s Chris McDaniel joins the St. Louis Beacon’s Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the week’s politics. On this week's show, Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey joins us to give a post-mortem of last week's veto session. The Republican goes into great detail on why he voted against the much-covered gun nullification bill, as well as what we can expect out of next year's session. Follow Chris McDaniel on Twitter: @csmcdaniel Follow Jo Mannies on Twitter: @jmannies Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum Follow Senator Dempsey on Twitter: @senatordempsey Politically Speaking: Dempsey On Veto Session And His Consequential Vote On The Gun Billhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/politically-speaking-dempsey-veto-session-and-his-consequential-vote-gun-bill
30025 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 19 Sep 2013 18:23:16 +0000Politically Speaking: Dempsey On Veto Session And His Consequential Vote On The Gun Bill